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For those who wants to know when and why Severus started thinking about having kids will be explained in chapter 19.

On with the story!

Hope you like it!

Chapter 17

Hermione Snape was practically flying down the corridors to meet her husband. The paintings and the portraits were smiling and waving to her as she passed. 'So far my day has gone quite well.'

She spotted a dark figure by the main entrance. "Severus!" the Gryffindor lunged at him and wrapping her arms around his neck she gave a kiss on the lips.

A kiss which Severus didn't hesitate to return. His arms were around her waist. When they broke for air Hermione noticed that thanks to their height difference her feet weren't touching the ground. Severus was holding her against him.

"I take it you found what you were looking for."

"Yes. Can you let me go now? I think we've given the students enough of a shock already." She nodded at a small group of third year students that were gaping at them. Severus scowled and was about to take away points when Hermione tugged at his sleeve.

"Let them be Severus. They didn't do anything wrong. It was my fault." She smiled at the kids. They smiled timidly back. The Slytherin wasn't happy about it, but let go.

The pair walked slowly to the gates and then continued to the edge of the Forbidden Forest. When they reached their destination Severus wrapped his arms around her waist.

"You will probably want to close your eyes. You'll be a bit dizzy after you apparite with me, ready?" Hermione griped the front of his robes and closed her eyes. Burying her face in his chest she nodded. They disappeared with a pop.

Hermione felt a bit dizzy but safe in Severus's strong embrace. Her head was spinning. 'I hate apparition.'

"Sit down Hermione. I will get something for you to drink."

Hermione looked around; they were in one of the corners of the Leaky Cauldron. She was sitting by a table.

"Ok. I'll wait for you here …I guess." He smirked. She raised a brow. Severus left for the drinks. 'Damn cocky slytherins. It's not my fault that I feel dizzy after appariting!'

Hermione looked elegant in her dark blue dress robes and with her wild hair tamed a little she left it flowing freely down her back. She wore no make up. Her head finally cleared.

"Hello there gorgeous."

Before the Hermione could react a handsome wizard with shoulder light dirty blond hairs and green eyes was sitting besides her. Hermione suppressed a sigh. 'Is he suicidal or what? Severus will be back with drinks any minute.'

"Can I buy you a drink?"

"No, thank you."

"Anything else then? How about you dine with me tonight?"

'Digging yourself a deeper grave?' "I don't think so. I am not alone here. So…" 'Leave already!'

"A man shouldn't leave such a beautiful woman alone."

Hermione glared at the wizard. "He went to get drinks and it would be better if you leave before he returns."

"How about you leave with me cutie?"

Hermione had had enough, she almost hoped he would stick around to see Severus tear into him. The optimist before her was sure that he was irresistible. "The man happens to be my husband Mister, and I will pick him a thousand times before I will look at someone like you. So why don't you leave me in peace?"

"You're with that old man? What a shame. You can still leave with me, I'm sure he won't mind." He winked suggestively at her and put his hand on Hermione's. She tried to stand up.

"Why don't you do me a favor and get lost? And please let go of my arm."

The man was about to protest…but he suddenly found himself face down on the floor.

"Is everything ok, Hermione?"

Hermione sat back and smiled. "Just fine, Severus." she sipped her butterbeer.

The dark haired Slytherin turned his attention to the fool on the floor. To say that he wasn't pleased that some jackass dared to hit on his wife was an understatement of the century. He growled.

By now the few visitors of the pub were looking at the scene with interested. The younger wizard managed to raise himself from the floor and was foolishly glaring at his attacker.

"Who the Hell do you think you are?"

Severus looked at Hermione, whom in response rolled her eyes. The slytherin smirked. 'It's gonna be fun.'

"I am husband of the witch that you were so unsuccessfully trying to charm with your bleached hair and honey sweet talk. I suggest you take her advice and get lost."

"I am Ignatius Lark and it's not your business what I'm doing grandpa and the little lady probably is already tired of you. Aren't you, doll? Don't you want to have some fun with me?"

Hermione choked on her drink. 'Grandpa? Oh brother…a famous surname wont save you now, moron.'

There were few gasps from the other in the pub. Ignatius mistakenly understood it as a reaction to his family name. But the witches and wizards were looking not at him but at the dark haired man. Somebody insulted Severus Snape. He was known as a man of a murderous temper. Then everyone's attention was on Hermione. They were shocked. The young Lady Snape looked gorgeous; till now they heard only rumors that the Slytherin married but young beautiful woman was a big surprise. The owner Tom looked worried; no wizard took lightly to being offend in front of his wife.

"Severus…" Hermione started to panic. She was sure that not breathing for her husband was a bad thing. "Severus…breathe."

Severus's eyes were fixed on the dead man to be. "Lark? I think I knew your father." Ignatius smirked. "Your dad had balls, but unfortunately no brains." Lark looked offended to no end. Hermione didn't look from Severus. Droplets of sweat started to form on her forehead. "I think you don't know how he died. Let me enlighten you. He asked the dark Lord if the rumors about him being a half-blood is true, lived for about an hour afterwards."

"How would you know that?"

"Oh, you mean my wife didn't introduce herself? Her name is Hermione Snape." the youth started to pale. "My name is Severus Snape."

After a few minutes Ignatius managed to regain the gift of speech. "I thought as much. The only reason a chick like this would be with you is because she is afraid of you, you old per…"

And he was on the floor from a single hit from Severus. "You little…" Severus had his wand out. Nobody dared to interfere.

"Severus! No!" Hermione got a hold on her husband's wand hand. She was practically hanging on it. "Calm down! Please!" 'What to do! What to do! Merlin! Ohhh fuck it!' Hermione jumped and kissed him. Her hands snaked around his neck. She licked tongue his lips. He opened his mouth inviting it in. Severus hands supported her waist. She broke the kiss after a minute and cleared her throat. "Better now?"

Severus glared at her a little than turned to shaking leaf that was Ignatius. "You are lucky, today." With a sneer on his face and his wife on his arm he left to Diagon Alley.

When they were away from prying eyes Hermione broke the silence. "So…where to first?"

"I need to check for something at Flourish and Blots. Do you have anywhere you want to go?"

"The bank is enough for me."

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Hermione all the way to the bank felt like a prize, everybody wanted to see who her husband had finally married. The stop in the bookstore was a true nightmare for Hermione. The store clerk spent most of the time sucking up to her husband, and by association, Hermione. She was disgusted. By the time they stopped at Gringot's Hermione was ready to curse the next person who so much as glanced at her.

"Hermione, don't forget that goblins are very offensive…"

"Severus, I have already been here before, come on let's go." She wasn't in the mood for lectures; the goblins better not have any problems with her for their own good. They stepped in inside.

The wizard's bank was spacious inside. Hermione went to the nearest goblin with Severus by her side.

"Yes Miss?" the goblin looked at her absolutely uncaring.

She smiled at him and extracted a silver key from her robes pocked. "I would like to visit vault.. " Hermione glanced at the handle of the key which had an engraved number "…009, please."

Goblins eyes went wide as saucers. "What? But that…we don't like these kinds of jokes Miss…"

"That's Lady Snape, and I would like to see the vault now."

"If you don't have a key…"

Hermione showed the key to him. The little goblin went pale. "I'm sorry for my behavior, Milady. This goblin asks for your forgiveness…" in a second the little creature was standing beside her and bowing to the ground.

"What is your name?" Hermione's voice was stern.

"Thtattt'sss … Sauryhook…Milady…I'm very…"

"Mr. Sauryhook you apologize too much and please call Hermione. Show me the vault." The goblin looked startled then beamed.

"Please come with me. It's a great honor for me." They ended up walking such a long distance that Hermione thought that the tunnels were never going to end. On the plus side though they didn't have to ride the rollercoaster down the entire way down. During the ride Severus kept quiet and silently watched his wife. She didn't look too eager to open the vault.

After what seemed like an eternity they were standing in front of a wooden door. "Here we are. When you are finished just call me." And the goblin was gone.

Hermione took a deep breath and smiled weakly at her husband. "Ok. Here goes nothing." She turned the little key in a rusty lock. The Gryffindor looked honestly surprise at the lack of security. She stepped inside a dark vault.

"Lumos!" Hermione shouted and looked about. She was in for another surprise. The vault was the size of the Great Hall was …empty. "You have to be kidding me! I went through all this today just to get a look at an empty vault? The Founders are lucky they are dead! Now, I would kill them myself!" Hermione's angry voice echoed around.

Severus suppressed a smirk. "Well…the Founders certainly had a sense of humor."

Hermione glared at her husband. "A sense of humor? You think it all was just a joke?...Than...Yes! Than I am not Mistress of Hogwarts! Thank you Merlin! I knew there had to be an explanation!" Hermione was ready to start the victory dance from happiness.

"I must disappoint you, Milady. You are the new Mistress." The two swirled around and saw a short old man with a grey beard that reached the floor. Severus had his wand out in a second and stepped in front of Hermione.

"Who are you?" Severus's voice was pure steel.

The little man smirked. "You're a fool if you think that would be able to stop me."

"Expeliamus!" the little guy blocked Severus attack with a wave of his hand.

"Stuferio." Severus froze in place. Hermione got her wand out. "Accio Mistress's wand." The gryffindor was wand less. She stood beside her husband.

"Who are you?"

"My name is Mellor, my dear. There is no need for you to be afraid of me."

"Then unfreeze my husband."

"I'm afraid I can't do that. That's up to you."

"What? You have my wand!"

"You see, my dear. Stuferio is not a freezing curse…it's a slow acting killing one." Hermione went deadly pale.

"No…"

"Do you want to save him? He is much older than you…"

"That's none of your concern! Cast the counter spell"

"Like I said it's up to you, Mistress. You know how to save him."

"I don't know any spells that can be cast without the wand and be successful…"

"Except?" Mellor petted his beard.

"…Protecto…"

"I would hurry up in your place. His time is running out…"

Hermione's knees were shaking at the memory of Protecto but…she couldn't leave Severus to die. He saved her when he married her, now it was her turn. She glared at Mellor and to his great surprise turned to Severus and started:

'I stand before the ghosts of yesterday,

And the visions of tomorrow.

Hear my plea, oh gods!

I am the heart of flames and heart of wisdom,

I am the heart of ice and heart of justice,

A heart that beats to live and learn to love,

So hear me!

I stand and bleed,

But will not fail to do my task!

I am the heart that cries upon the mercy of Hell

And fury of Heavens!

Grant me the protection from my enemies,

Grant me mercy from the wings of the Fallen Angel!

I am the heart of hope!

PROTECTO!

Hermione closed her eyes fully expecting a wave of pain but it never came. She also didn't feel the surge of magic. She heard clapping.

"Well done, dear." Mellor was standing next to her and offering her wand. Hermione grabbed it and pointed at him.

"It didn't work! Why?"

"Because wasn't meant to, Mistress."

"But Severus…"

"Will be fine. The freezing charm will wear off after few minutes."

"Who are you Mr. Mellor?"

Mellor flashed her a toothy grin. "I was asked by the Four Founders to wait for the one and give her or him that." Mellor reached to his pants pocket and handed something to Hermione. It was a medallion with the cross of Hogwarts. The four animals that represented the four Founders were moving. When Hermione took her eyes from it Mellor was gone. The Gryffindor looked around. She was alone in the vault.

"Severus? Where are you?" she started to panic when suddenly the door flew open and a worried Severus stormed in.

"Hermione? Are you ok?"

"He is gone Severus, I looked around and he was gone."

The Slytherin looked questioningly at her. "What are you talking about? Was there someone in the vault? When you stepped inside the door just closed and I couldn't open it for a good hour. Are you sure you are ok?" he looked at her as looking for some kind of damage.

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